Is the messenger more important than message?

I am not a viewer of the popular – and now controversial – reality show “Duck Dynasty.”

I’ve never watched a full episode of the A&E show that details the activities and beliefs of a Louisiana backwoods family.

I am, however, among the 600,000-plus subscribers to GQ magazine, which started a national debate by having a writer spend a day with family patriarch Phil Robertson.

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In the article, writer Drew Magary rode around the family compound in a camo-painted ATV.

Magary certainly was aware of the coming backlash from his report.

Direct from GQ: “Out here in these woods, without any cameras around, Phil is free to say what he wants. Maybe a little too free.”

What follows is, at least for a daily newspaper, an X-rated description of why men should have sex with women rather than other men.

Shocking? Not for a magazine that caters to men. And not from a man who claims he’s a born again Christian and quotes the Bible in defense of his views -- whether right, wrong or simply outdated.

But the 67-year-old Robertson, who was suspended from this season’s start of Duck Dynasty’s fifth season and then reinstated before the program went on the air, also said in the article: “We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ‘em, give ‘em the good news about Jesus – whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We’ll let God sort ‘em out later – you see what I’m saying?”

Well, yes Phil, I do see -- sort of, maybe.

Phil, and we presume others in the family, think homosexuality is a sin. But they’ll leave the final judgment to the Almighty.

Here is another view: “Tell me, when God looks at a gay person does he endorse the existence of this person with love or reject and condemn this person.”

Those are the words of Pope Francis, the leader of the 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world.

And the church still considers homosexuality a sin.

So whether considering same-sex partnerships and marriages immoral or politically incorrect, it remains the view of Phil Robertson and Pope Francis. But both say it’s not for them to judge.

Yet, one is criticized for his remarks and the other is praised. Is the messenger more important than the message?

Ken Kish, a retired editor and contributing columnist, may be reached at kennethkish12@gmail.com.